st. petersburg – The Girl Who Goes

Last Updated on September 1, 2023

Top 3 Things to do in St. Petersburg, Russia

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

I’m not sure if you know this – because I didn’t – but St. Petersburg is a huge city. As my plane made its decent into SBP around sunset, I was struck by the sheer size of the city and surrounding areas. This also made it difficult to decide on a place to stay, since there were well-priced hostels all around the city. In the end, my cousin suggested staying near Nevsky Prospekt, which turned out to be a great decision.

Though someone with much more time than me would undoubtedly find many more of the city’s gems, here are the top 3 things to do if you are on a short trip and spending most of your time near Nevsky Prospekt! All of these things are less than a 20-minute walk away. [Read more…]

Last Updated on September 3, 2023

5 Surprising Things about St. Petersburg, Russia

Singer Building (left) overlooking Nevsky Prospekt

When I stepped off the plane in St. Petersburg, Russia, I really didn’t know what I was getting into. Other than booking transportation and a place to stay, I normally don’t plan or research much in advance when I travel. I prefer to make decisions once I arrive and let things unfold naturally.

That being said, Russia was a place unlike anywhere I’ve been before. Though I know St. Petersburg isn’t fully European, there were so many things that surprised me and were different than what I’ve experienced in any other country. Here are a few of those things! [Read more…]

Last Updated on January 3, 2023

Trip Review: St. Petersburg, Russia

In front of the Hermitage/Winter Palace

In my ultimate quest of traveling as much as possible in my life, I always assumed I’d visit Russia *someday*. I certainly never thought it would be this year – until I found out that my cousin, Gillian, would be spending this semester studying abroad in St. Petersburg. Since I would already be in Madrid, which is quite a bit closer to SPB than the U.S., I figured now was the time. [Read more…]

Last Updated on January 24, 2024

5 Things to Do After Arriving in a Foreign Country

Even though I consider myself a travel expert, there are a few situations that can make me feel a bit overwhelmed. Arriving in a foreign country, especially one I’ve never been to before, can sometimes be complicated. And if the airport is far from the city where I need to go, that might make it a little harder. If that country uses a different alphabet than the Latin one — like in Russia, Thailand, or Cambodia — that definitely increases the discomfort level. Not only am I unable to read the signs, but I also can’t even attempt to sound them out in my head to make them feel more familiar.

Last week, I disembarked the plane in St. Petersburg, Russia, after a long day of traveling from Madrid. It was already dark outside since the sun sets at 4 p.m., and all the aforementioned scenarios were in play. Also, the pressure in the airplane had messed with my ears since I was sick, leaving me unable to hear for a few hours after landing. So yeah, I was a little bit stressed about next steps… until I remembered that I have something like a routine for times like this. I haven’t had to use it in a while, but I knew what I needed to do. [Read more…]